‘Up North they make pies with meat, which worries me’

MALCOLM WYATT caught up with Canadian comic KATHERINE RYAN ahead of two dates in Lancashire this weekend, and was offered a job for his trouble

Katherine Ryan reaches Lancaster’s Dukes Theatre and Preston’s 53 Degrees this week, for the 50th and 51st shows of her latest tour.

Following sell-out runs at London’s Soho Theatre and the Edinburgh Festival, Katherine Ryan hit the road running in late-September with her critically-acclaimed Glam Role Model show.

Due to popular demand, that tour ended up being extended – her 10 extra dates including two in Lancashire, bringing the total to 53.

It’s been a big couple of years too, with Katherine a familiar face on our TVs thanks to appearances on BBC 1’s Have I Got News For You, Live At The Apollo and Let’s Dance for Comic Relief, BBC 2’s Mock The Week, QI and Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and as a regular panellist on Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats.

Along the way the 31-year-old has brushed aside controversy and more, while carving out a big reputation as an ‘often dangerously-fierce pop culture-obsessed lady’.

Visitors to Lancaster’s The Dukes (tonight) and Preston’s 53 Degrees (tomorrow) will be able to judge that for themselves this week. But before she arrived in the Red Rose county, Katherine took time out to speak to the Lancashire Evening Post.

So, did this Ontarian ever think she could have hacked life as a city planner, as per her studies? Or maybe that’s still the plan if people just stop laughing one day.

“If I’d become a city planner after uni, I guess I’d find happiness there and I wouldn’t know that I’d missed out on the life I have now. We could all be leading a million different lives based on one tiny choice. It’s scary.”

While studying, Katherine worked at Hooters, working her way up to corporate trainer, then travelling around Canada to train other waitresses.

I put it to her that perhaps running a restaurant or going back to the old job as a waitress was where the future might be.

“Yes. When you stop being a journalist and I stop being a comedian, we can waitress together somewhere.”

Nice image. You’ve been based in North London for some time now. Do you think of England as home yet?

“I identify as a British mum, as a Londoner. I’m proud to have grown up in Canada and I think it’s given my comedy a unique perspective.”

I gather you first came over with a boyfriend, and the comedy outlasted him. Is that right.

“That’s exactly right.”

Did you have a few quid to fall back on in those early days, if it all went pear-shaped?

“I was poor, but I was 23 years old. You can be penniless at 23 and find a way to survive. I’m the kind of person who isn’t too proud to work at anything, anytime, anywhere, so I’ll probably always be okay.”

How often do you get back to Canada?

“I take my daughter to visit the family once a year. My sister is getting married in 2015, so we’ll get to go twice!”

Are you at least getting warmer winters now?

“That’s not how global warming works exactly.”

From what I’ve read about your formative days in comedy, I gather waitresses’ gags about clubbing seals didn’t go down too well in your homeland.

“Not at Hooters anyway. People can be very sensitive about the political humour of their 19-year-old waitress, in my experience.”

But that at least led to your big break. Can you remember your first five minutes under the lights?

“I can’t, but I do know I had something about my mum getting me tickets to a live taping of Dr Phil. He’s like Canada’s Jeremy Kyle, only he started more like Dr Christian.

“He was respectable at first, but his daytime ‘help’ show has taken a dark turn and is now mostly exploitative.”

With your dad originally from Cork, would you say there’s a sense of the Irish in your comedy?

“My dad was born in Cork and moved to Canada aged around 30. Both my parents have always been funny in different ways.

“Most of the drunken storytelling that I witnessed growing up came from my mum’s side. Not her though, she managed everyone else beautifully.

“Once, I came down for breakfast and saw the dishwasher pushed against a door, holding it shut.

“My mum was cheerfully making pancakes, and said, ‘Oh hi, honey, the uncles are still up drinking so I’ve trapped them all downstairs... orange juice?’

“She rolled with it and made a joke of everything. Everything!”

As the eldest of three sisters. who was the funniest in your family when you were growing up?

“Oh, definitely me, but I needed them to set me up. We still laugh uncontrollably when we’re all together, but only at funerals or weddings.”

How old’s your ‘flat-mate’ – Katherine’s pet name for her daughter – now? And is she catching you up in the funny woman stakes?

“Neither matters, because I know awards are arbitrary and I probably didn’t deserve them anyway.”

After the ill-fated comedy Campus, those roles in Episodes and Don’t Sit in the Front Row with Jack Dee, have you any more TV sitcoms lined up?

“I’ve written two, so we’ll see. I’d also like to get a chat show made.”

I gather you’d been writing your own – is one related to your restaurant days?

“Yes, and a golf one.”

Was travelling around Canada training waitresses a good breeding ground for comedy?

“I travelled the world doing that and absolutely, it taught me a lot about how powerful it is to treat everyone with respect.

“Everyone has their story. And I learned to stand my ground.”

After your role on Let’s Dance for Comic Relief, does a spell on Strictly Come Dancing or another of those celeb shows beckon?

“I’d love to do that. I’m up for anything!”

Has there been any comeback from Nicki Minaj over your big thigh take on Starships for Let’s Dance?

“I wish.”

As an outsider, what’s the difference between the North and South of England for you?

“The accent up North is better. They make pies with meat in the North, which worries me, but I love the people because they seem a little more Canadian.”

You’ve played a fair few North-West venues now - which are your favourites?

“North West is Kim & Kanye’s daughter. That’s all I can think of now.”

Finally, not only are you at Lancaster’s The Dukes, but also Preston’s 53 Degrees before your tour ends with two nights in Reading. So what can we expect on each occasion?

“My new show, Glam Role Model, looks at pop culture news, and the idea that for many people, celebrity is a religion. It’s a big deal. So it matters who we put in those roles.”

For all the latest from Katherine Ryan, head to her official website www.katherineryan.co.uk or follow her on Twitter via @kathbum. Ticket details for The Dukes and 53 Degrees can be found at www.livenation.co.uk

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